5 on Friday (FRIDAY)

Happy Friday! Here's what is on my radar going into the long holiday weekend.

1. My super thoughtful sister sent me this perfect card in the mail this week congratulating me on getting my butt back to work. I can't even explain how much I loved opening it after a long day at the office.

2. I've only been to New Orleans once, and was a senior in high school when Katrina happened, but the devastation resonated with me. I have several friends I met through ASP who left "ASP-land" and went down to New Orleans to help with the rebuilding efforts. This amazing article shows some incredibly moving before and after photos from then and now.

3. L's Birthday Weekend is coming up and we're going to Nashville for the night. Hotel is booked, Uber account has been created, but our schedule remains wide open... any suggestions as to where we should eat? (We did Whiskey Kitchen last year and have tried a few other Nashville favorites over the year but we need help narrowing down our options this year!)

4. The In-Laws are coming into town this weekend which means we NEED to get that guest bed all set up! So, we'll be heading out tonight for some last minute shopping - and probably spending all those BB&B 20% off coupons I've been hoarding...

5. Lauren Conrad teamed up with Paper Crown to make bridesmaid dresses and it makes me so excited for K's wedding next summer! I hope we get to wear dresses as beautiful as these!

Five on Friday *FRIDAY*

TGIF! Here's what's on my radar going into a few days off:

1. Free Carrie Underwood Concert - Did you know you can listen to concerts taking place at the Grand Ole Opry FOR FREE? Well, you totally can, and Carrie Underwood is performing tonight. Rather than forking out the $75 and heading to Nashville for the night, a few friends are coming over and we're cozying up here, drinking some wine, and enjoying the concert from the backyard. I can't wait!

2. Fabness.com - My photo canvases came in today and I love them! I purchase a Groupon for them, and paid $20 for a 12x18" canvas. Here is how I currently have them arranged:

The Fabness site was easy to navigate and their chat feature helped to answer quite a few of my questions. They shipped rather quickly for such a big order and are a great quality. I'd highly recommend them in the future!

3. Tutorial Help - This weekend, I'm helping a friend with a DIY project I plan on blogging about on Monday. I'm so excited and hope you'll tune in on Monday for more information! (Hint, if you follow me on Instagram I already posted a huge spoiler!)

4. DIY on deck - This weekend, I'd love to re-finish our kitchen table and work on a fire pit. These are two things I've been meaning to take on for a while, and have procrastinated long enough! So, I'll be studying a lot of Pinterest for tips and getting to work. 

5. Where'd you go, Bernadette? I rented this from the library earlier this week and I can hardly put it down! If you haven't read it yet, you should. It's so entertaining.

Have a great weekend!

5 on Friday

Hello, everyone! I hope you are excited for your weekend. Here is what I have on my radar going into the weekend:

1. My tissue paper tassel garland - I love the way my little garland came out. I am not 100% in love with how it's hung on the window pane, but I may keep playing around with it. The teal paper matches the bar and our lamps perfectly, and the yellow is a great compliment. It was so easy to make as well - everyone should have one of these in their home. 

2. Sewing Machine - My Mom bought me this as a surprise - I am so excited. Plus, my friend CJ are I are having a "sew-down" tomorrow. (My friend KPB is expecting her first in November so of course I need to sew all the things for little baby ADB.) Like this, or this, or this!

3. Dinner - Since CJ is sponsoring my sew-down, and holding my hand while I re-acquaint myself with a sewing machine (home ec was about 12 years ago, cut me a break...), I am whipping up dinner. As much as I'd love to cook, I've been craving a light and fresh pasta salad recently. So, I'm thinking about trying this tortellini caprese salad. Yum!

4. Stella & Dot Fall Line - I get to start sampling the fall line today and need to beef up my display badly. How can you not want all of this? As soon as they're available for order I'll post link up here, I promise. You'll want to snatch up these goodies ASAP, trust me.

5. Furniture Thrifting - I envisioned his and hers matching desks in our office. I had been looking around but realized I wasn't going to thrift matching desks. Lucky for me, these perfect desks were at Target for only $50! It made is easier on my wallet to pick up two, and allowed me to do the great furniture shuffle. Try to follow me here - setting up my desk, meant I didn't have to use my old vanity for a desk anymore. I moved the vanity to the living room, and replaced one of the side tables. That freed up the side tables to be used as nightstands in the bedroom (another item I wanted matching which makes them much harder to thrift.) Now, I just have to find 1 side table for the living room rather than 2 nightstands for the bedroom. 

Confused yet? I promise to do a home tour as things come together a little more in the next few weeks.

Have a wonderful weekend - see you all on Monday!

Five on Friday

TGIF! I hope you all have big plans for the weekend. Today I plan on being as lazy as possible, hitting up the farmers market and thrift stores tomorrow before knocking out yard work, and heading to Pigeon Forge on Sunday to meet up with some family. (My Ya-Ya Sisterhood as we call ourselves - that's what happens when the women greatly outnumber the men in your family.)

But for now, here are my 5 on Friday:

1. Blue Blue Blue! Blue is one of my go-to colors and these Stella & Dot pieces are to die for. I own two of those necklaces, one of the bracelets, and a tech wallet - but my friends fill out many of the other items. They're all perfection - and the Juniper necklace is even on sale!

2. I hear wedding bells! One of my best friends, teammates, roommates, and Chung Mung babies is getting hitched! Her boyfriend finally popped the question this week - congrats you two!
3. Sip and Cycle - My sister visits so soon and I'm trying to plan a girls only trip to Nashville for a Sip and Cycle tour of Midtown. I always see these when we go into town and think it would be such a fun way to play tourist while B is in Tennessee.

4. DIY Project - I plan on knocking this out this weekend -- wish me luck! Has anyone tried this before? Tips? Tricks?
5. Cookout Club - This month is a Fiesta theme, so I'm bringing my version of the Pioneer Woman's salsa, some of my homemade guac (avocado, cilantro, garlic, jalapeno, lime juice, and a little bit of salt), and some jalapeno cilantro dip (jalapeno, Greek yogurt, cilantro, mayo, and lime juice). I'm so excited!

Have a good weekend!

5 on Friday

TGIF everyone! I wanted to get a quick blog post out before I headed to the pool to catch some rays.

1. It's almost honeymoon time! L and I head out next week for our long awaited honeymoon and I cannot wait! I'll be sure to take lots and lots of photos, and never fear - I already have blog posts scheduled for while I'm gone so you won't miss me too much :)

Life is going to be hard, y'all...

2. DIY Weekend - With all of our friends are heading out of town before us for block leave, we're going to spend the weekend doing housework - giving it it's first good cleaning inside, mowing the lawn, and maybe a DIY project or two! Be sure to follow me in Instagram for updates.

3. Moving Announcements/Presents - So, Kathleen over at Leen Jean (who did my wedding invites, thank yous, and other custom work for me...) is coming through again! She is doing a custom piece for my Mom's birthday (shh! Don't tell her!) and working on some moving announcements for us. I am so excited to share the finished product with you! You should head over to her website for a peek and place an order - her work is beautiful!

4. HAPPY BIRTHDAY - My Mom's birthday is next week, as is my baby sister's so I wanted to give B a shout out! (Since I know she reads this and Mom doesn't...) I love you, B Sweet! I hope you have a blast kicking off festivities this weekend. I wish so badly I could be there!

5. #oddsareiam - Don't forget that we're still instagramming our summer activities on the odd days in June! I cannot wait to see what everyone posts for their National Wear Lilly Day tomorrow!

Have a great weekend!

5 on Friday

Happy Friday, everyone! I hope you all have the opportunity to relax and unwind this weekend and really savor your time off. Here's what is on my radar for this weekend:

1. TFIOS - Yes I'm seeing this today. Yes I'm going alone. Yes I'm hoping that by going to a mid-day showing that no one will see me and judge me for the ugly crying that will ensue. I'm a crier - I cry just about every day - but y'all, I can't get through a trailer or an interview with any of the cast without choking up. It's not going to be pretty.

2. Smart Ass - tomorrow night we're having game night with our usual group and we're so excited to try out this game. I've heard nothing but great reviews and I can't wait to play.

3. Hot Caprese Dip - Game Night is a potluck, so I was thinking of trying out this delicious looking dip. Have you made a caprese dip before? Please share your recipe if you have!

4. New Clothes! Ally over at Life as I Know It blogged about this dress earlier this week and I bought it right away - and it shipped this morning. I am so excited - it is the summer of the maxi, y'all!

5. #oddsareiam - don't forget to instagram tomorrow - and to search the hashtag for all the great things our participants have been up to so far this month.

Have a great weekend, y'all! See you Monday!

Five on Friday

TGIF! I hope everyone has big plans for an exciting but relaxing weekend and is gearing up for the launch of Allie and I's photo challenge #oddsareiam! Here is what is on my radar going into this weekend.

1. Hail and Farewell - last night we had a Hail and Farewell - my first as an Army wife! A Hail and Farewell is a time to say goodbye to those transitioning into new assignments and hello to those joining the unit. Some companies coordinate outfits (last night, Whiskey company all wore their "Canadian Tuxedos" - or all denim outfits) but usually the guys are just happy to be in civilian clothes. I decided to obey the adage "it's better to be over-dressed than under-dressed" and below is my outfit.

Hail and Farewell by catherine-gumpman featuring wedge shoes
Dress - 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5

2. Whiskey Distillery Tour and Tasting - we're heading up to the MB Rolland Distillery a few miles up the road tomorrow for a tasting and tour followed by dinner. Who doesn't love a good old fashioned double date?

3. Stella & Dot Show - It isn't too late to place your order for my fundraising Stella & Dot show. I'm donating 100% of my commission to my dear friend's trip to Mumbai, so please shop away! All orders begin processing immediately and ship directly to you. Let me know if you have any questions!

4. Juicing - I finally invested in a juicer this week (rather than inviting myself over to a friend's house to use and abuse hers...) and have been juicing like crazy! My favorites so far? In the morning I have apple, pear, lemon, celery, cucumber, and ginger. And my mid-afternoon pick me up is grapefruit, pear, and ginger. Yum! I'm hoping to pick up some fresh produce at the farmers market tomorrow to stock up for next week.

5. Packing, organizing, and moving! With our move-in day right around the corner, and us gone next weekend, I need to keep on with my packing and organizing. It's never the easiest task, and it's taking all of my motivation to keep from getting burnt out, so wish me luck!

I hope you all have a great weekend. Can't wait to see your #oddsareiam photos on Sunday!

5 on Friday

TGIF, everyone! I hope you have big plans for the weekend. Here are my 5 for Friday - enjoy!

1. Taco Meatloaf - Pinterest wins again! I found this taco meatloaf recipe and was a little hesitant at first, but it was delicious. (My adjustments? I used a whole can of corn and added a tablespoon of Sriracha.) 

2. Lauren's Engagement Photos - Y'all. I'm obsessed. Go to Wayfares & Worksheets and look at the others she has shared. I've been a fan of her blog for a while now and she's a beautiful person inside and out and these photos are to die for. 

3. Tori's Stella & Dot Fundraising Show - So far we've raised $159 for Tori's trip to Mumbai this summer and there's still so much time to order. Please help me sell $1,965 more Stella and Dot and raise the maximum amount of money for her mission trip. You can shop online here - orders process immediately and ship directly to you! (Poufs and charm necklaces make excellent gifts!)

4. What a mail day! If you follow me on Instagram, you'll know that I had an excellent mail day yesterday and I am all set for relaxing by the pool this weekend. (Come back, warmer temps! These 60's aren't doing it for me.)

5. Weekend Plans - So far this weekend, we have the farmers market and dog park on our schedule. Probably a movie date tomorrow night, church on Sunday - and at some point getting my rear passenger break light fixed. (Bummer, right?) 

Have a great weekend everyone!